The Valparaiso University volleyball program received its NCAA statistical champion plaque this week, recognizing the Crusaders for leading the country in digs/set during the 2017 season. Valpo’s average of 20.03 digs/set was the second-highest single-season average by a Division I team since the move to 25-point scoring prior to the 2008 campaign.

Valparaiso University volleyball head coach Carin Avery will be inducted as part of the 1994 Ball State University volleyball team into the Ball State Athletics Hall of Fame this weekend. As part of the ceremonies, Avery and the rest of the inductees will be recognized at halftime of the Valpo-Ball State men’s basketball game Saturday afternoon.

Following her standout rookie season for the Crusaders, Valparaiso University freshman libero Rylee Cookerly (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) has been honored as the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Midwest Region Freshman of the Year. Cookerly is one of just 10 freshmen nationwide to earn the regional Freshman of the Year accolade, and is now up for consideration for National Freshman of the Year.

Valparaiso University senior middle hitter Taylor Graboski (Upper Sandusky, Ohio/Upper Sandusky) closed out her Crusader career with one final All-Tournament honor, as she was selected to the Missouri Valley Conference All-Tournament Team following the conclusion of the conference’s postseason event.

The sixth-seeded Valparaiso University volleyball team took the first set from third-seeded Illinois State Thursday night in its first-ever match at the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament in Normal, Ill., but the Redbirds claimed each of the next three sets as Valpo’s season came to an end, 3-1 (23-25, 25-15, 25-23, 25-19).

Valparaiso University volleyball senior Taylor Graboski (Upper Sandusky, Ohio/Upper Sandusky) has been named a First Team All-Missouri Valley Conference selection as the conference office announced its postseason awards on Thursday. The Crusaders were also represented by a pair of players on the conference’s All-Freshman Team: Brittany Anderson (East Chicago, Ind./Bishop Noll) and Rylee Cookerly (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg).

The Valparaiso University volleyball team heads to the Missouri Valley Conference tournament for the first time this week, as the Crusaders earned the sixth seed for the 2017 edition of the tournament in Normal, Ill. Third-seeded Illinois State - the host school - awaits Valpo in the first round, as the Crusaders will need to win three matches to capture the tournament title.

The Valparaiso University volleyball team placed three players on the Missouri Valley Conference’s Scholar-Athlete Teams, as announced by the conference office on Tuesday. Redshirt junior Allison Ketcham (Mishawaka, Ind./Marian) earned First Team Scholar-Athlete honors, while juniors Sydney Bronner (Frankenmuth, Mich./Frankenmuth) and Katherine Carlson (Lake Orion, Mich./Notre Dame Prep) were both Honorable Mention recipients.